Mt. Waterman and Snowcrest/Kratka Ridge
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this year.Tom Moriarty
New member
Me Bad!!!
Snow report # is (818) 952-7676
Snow report # is (818) 952-7676
SoCal Rider
New member
Tom,
As far as you know, is the Web site accurate with regards to ticket prices? I particularly curious about afternoon sessions.
As far as you know, is the Web site accurate with regards to ticket prices? I particularly curious about afternoon sessions.
Tom Moriarty
New member
I checked it out today and full day is $45.00 and 1/2 day is $35.00
Tom,
Any news when they will open Ch3? On opening day, there was a lot of "next weekend" talk, and it seems from other forums to continue to be a "next weekend" for the past couple of weeks. I realize the chair needed to be dug out, what's the scoop?
Don't get me wrong, I'm just happy they're open at all.
--cranbo
Any news when they will open Ch3? On opening day, there was a lot of "next weekend" talk, and it seems from other forums to continue to be a "next weekend" for the past couple of weeks. I realize the chair needed to be dug out, what's the scoop?
Don't get me wrong, I'm just happy they're open at all.
--cranbo
Tom Moriarty
New member
Chair 3 is still down with an electrical problem that they can't seem to get fixed. Sunday should be a great day with new snow!
Tom Moriarty
New member
Bad News! Waterman is in pretty bad shape with lack of technical staff and some spots going bare and such so they will not operate tomorrow (Sunday). They only had like 38 people today and that is no where near breaking even. They are going to try and find someone who can do some quality grooming to push some snow around and hope some of those spring storms roll in. Got about 4-6 inches today but not enough to make things right. Hopefully open by next weekend again.
So much for my speculation that Waterman would hold up better than Baldy due to north facing trees. If tonight's storm is meaningful, I had been considering a shot at Waterman on that theory. There have been some mixed precipitation events, and Baldy does better with those due to higher elevation. I appreciate the heads up.
Too bad about the 38 skiers. I do imagine it's tough to get the word out after being closed to the public for 7 years.
Too bad about the 38 skiers. I do imagine it's tough to get the word out after being closed to the public for 7 years.
That's surprising and unfortunate. I overheard someone (manager? owner?) last time I was up saying that to break even they need 71 tickets sold.
I also thought it'd hold up better than the rest given its north-facing terrain. Oh well. Hope the new snow helped at least a little and you can get it going again.
What Waterman needs is some kind of underground advertising- they obviously aren't going to be able to pay for ads in the usual media- TV, radio, billboards, print, so something else is gonna have to happen. Flyers, posters, word-of-mouth, things like that to get the word out. Almost nobody I've talked to has a clue what Waterman is or where it is, even the ones who I think would enjoy it. Maybe for next season...
I also thought it'd hold up better than the rest given its north-facing terrain. Oh well. Hope the new snow helped at least a little and you can get it going again.
What Waterman needs is some kind of underground advertising- they obviously aren't going to be able to pay for ads in the usual media- TV, radio, billboards, print, so something else is gonna have to happen. Flyers, posters, word-of-mouth, things like that to get the word out. Almost nobody I've talked to has a clue what Waterman is or where it is, even the ones who I think would enjoy it. Maybe for next season...
Tom Moriarty
New member
I think it still holds up better than those other places as there is still tons of snow on most of the mountain, but it has to be groomed and maintained and that is not happening. They need and experienced cat driver with Pisten Bully knowledge. I am going to go up on Tuesday and see if I can remember how to drive one from my Mammoth days and hopefully not screw it up more. Plans are to reopen next weekend for Easter.
ChrisC
Well-known member
When is the line crossed between non-paid reporting and self promotion/Internet campaign crossed?
I'm happy that they are bringing something back from the dead. But I do not see any reason for special privilege - that some small LA area gets a free pass on any updates to its operation.
I'm happy that they are bringing something back from the dead. But I do not see any reason for special privilege - that some small LA area gets a free pass on any updates to its operation.
I was not one of Mt. Waterman's frequent visitors, but they have spent a fair amount of $ and are fighting an uphill battle to revive the area as I've mentioned a few times in this thread. So I'm inclined to cut them some slack in reporting developments here and elsewhere online. I don't think they can afford to buy L.A. radio ads like Big Bear and Mt. High. Hopefully someone from Mt. Waterman will show up at the L.A. ski show next fall though.
ShiftyRider
Member
In the eye of the website owner.
From a customer standpoint, it's totally different. Notions of "soup nazi" ticket sellers (see this thread) ain't gonna help. The savvy customer will also need to look into some details that would normally be foregone conclusions, cuz a business that can't afford what would seem to be an essential (advertising) is also likely to be cutting corners elsewhere.
If this is viewed as a learning experience by the customer, it's ten-fold for the proprietor.
ChrisC
Well-known member
Admin":1wsl8g5e said:
I know I am not popular for raising this issue. Especially when this is the number 1 thread on the entire site.
But I just want to know what the rules are.
Slippery slope when decide that ski area that is "in need"....and a lot of ski-related small business are "in need"...but they get shut down here.
However, I am not too far off when I designate "special status" for Waterman. The East Coasters would not allow Powdr Killington to get promotion with its 2007-08 special re-opening under new management.
I doubt that Admin would do anything but encourage traffic and Adsense...but money does not make it right.
ChrisC, I understand and appreciate your comments. I'm thankful that you took the time to put your thoughts to electrons even though it may be politically unpopular.
If someone starts a thread to just to spam the forums, never to be seen again, then yes - I'll shoot them down like a Patriot missle. FTO is only here because of the advertisers who keep us afloat, and to give someone free advertising is counter to our business objectives and unfair to paying advertisers. I won't run advertorial in the news section, either.
The Waterman case, however, is different. I started the thread myself, actually, trying to find out for myself the ski area's status in 2004. Tom hopped in as an employee with no direct financial interest other than to keep a salary flowing. Frankly I find his candor refreshing. It's no different than the way I view steve@jpr's posts - Steve provides valuable insight here that's more than welcome, just like Tom.
And in the end, this is a fiefdom after all. :wink:
In reality, the amount of revenue this thread brings in is infinitesimal. Much more important to me is the valuable content that it provides our users.
If someone starts a thread to just to spam the forums, never to be seen again, then yes - I'll shoot them down like a Patriot missle. FTO is only here because of the advertisers who keep us afloat, and to give someone free advertising is counter to our business objectives and unfair to paying advertisers. I won't run advertorial in the news section, either.
The Waterman case, however, is different. I started the thread myself, actually, trying to find out for myself the ski area's status in 2004. Tom hopped in as an employee with no direct financial interest other than to keep a salary flowing. Frankly I find his candor refreshing. It's no different than the way I view steve@jpr's posts - Steve provides valuable insight here that's more than welcome, just like Tom.
And in the end, this is a fiefdom after all. :wink:
In reality, the amount of revenue this thread brings in is infinitesimal. Much more important to me is the valuable content that it provides our users.
Tom Moriarty
New member
I just want to point out I am not on the Waterman payroll. We talked about it, but the finances were just not there at this time the insure year round work with the medical benefits I need to take care of my family. I have been there every weekend running the bottom of Chair #1 to see old friends and help out and hopefully I will be there full time in the future. But like most that are posting on this forum "I Love Mt. Waterman" and want to see it florish again. It has been a part of my life since 1975 and I consider Lynn Newcomb to be like my second dad (LOL) and we talk just about every day and I still want to see his vision move forward.
With that said, Waterman may be done for the season. Rick had no experience in the ski industry when he took this on. He now knows what he needs to do and will spend the summer planning for next year and get the rest of the puzzle put together.
Happy Easter everyone and I will continue to update as I learn what is going on as long as Tony and the rest of the FirstTracks let me.
Tom
With that said, Waterman may be done for the season. Rick had no experience in the ski industry when he took this on. He now knows what he needs to do and will spend the summer planning for next year and get the rest of the puzzle put together.
Happy Easter everyone and I will continue to update as I learn what is going on as long as Tony and the rest of the FirstTracks let me.
Tom
I'm not THE administrator. This thread started back in 2004 when Marc e-mailed me off-line to inquire about the Angeles Crest ski areas. After a couple of exchanges he realized it might have wider interest, so we created this thread.
It's been educational to observe the process of reopening Mt. Waterman, and perhaps a bit sobering to the skiing public, which often takes ski area maintenance for granted. I wanted to give Mt. Waterman a try this season, but based on prior experience I thought I would prefer it best in spring conditions after Mt. Baldy's sunny exposures had been trashed. Tom's post saved me a possibly wasted trip and was thus a public service as far as I'm concerned.
ChrisC is one of our most knowledgeable posters and like many of us
is quite opinionated. Many of these differences of opinion are what make the FTO boards as informative as they are. And we all know Marc is the czar, so it's his determination when something is out of line.
It's been educational to observe the process of reopening Mt. Waterman, and perhaps a bit sobering to the skiing public, which often takes ski area maintenance for granted. I wanted to give Mt. Waterman a try this season, but based on prior experience I thought I would prefer it best in spring conditions after Mt. Baldy's sunny exposures had been trashed. Tom's post saved me a possibly wasted trip and was thus a public service as far as I'm concerned.
ChrisC is one of our most knowledgeable posters and like many of us
is quite opinionated. Many of these differences of opinion are what make the FTO boards as informative as they are. And we all know Marc is the czar, so it's his determination when something is out of line.